Changes to the game of Football

[SneakyQuick]

Thought I would create a thread regarding changes to the rules and or the technology allowed which has made the pro game different and in my view a lot less interesting.


I have a couple of ideas but feel free to chime in. Im by no means an expert


What I’ve noticed since the 80s is:

1. The prevalence of gloves which makes catching a football require slightly less hand eye coordination (just my hunch)

2. The calling of plays from upstairs and communication via helmet microphones. Not totally sure about this but it seems to me that in the old days either the quarterback called the play or it had to be run in from the sidelines. Feels like In the last 15-20 years all that has changed.

It’s probably the case that quarterbacks who aren’t as adept at running an offense have way more to fall back on now than they did 30 years ago.

I’m guessing that people who know the game better than I do can add more examples. Just a starter

 

[Leonardfan]

I've broached this topic on more than one occasion. I even posted a video a week or so ago explaining the differences between the NFL now and in 2000 although it did not do a deep dive - it's a good jump off point. Rule changes have a lot to do with it - the game is heavily slanted in the favor of the offense. The "evolution of the game" which is simply allowing offensive players to have more space - hence the spread option offense being successful thus making the QB position easier to play. Most black QBs come into the league running a very similar offense to the one they ran in college. I can still remember when I first started following the draft back in 2004/2005 anytime a QB was drafted the MO was that it would take at least a year or two for that player to absorb the playbook before becoming fluent in the offensive scheme. A total 180 from what is happening today.

 

[SneakyQuick]

Makes sense. I think the game is less Enjoyable too cause the players have less influence on the action. I have always felt like football had more scripting to it than other sports but even more so lately.

I’m probably done with the nfl cause the politicization is too much for me to stomach. Still it’s a shame a once great game has been brought so low.

 

[Leon Sandcastle]

There's also the updated jersey number rule, which allows LBs and DBs to wear any number between 1 and 49. This is a disadvantage to all offenses, but particularly offenses with older quarterbacks, most of which are white, whereas younger black quarterbacks only a few years removed from college can adjust to the new numbers more easily. Tom Brady is the only one who's spoken about it publicly but I'm sure a lot of other older quarterbacks are thinking the same thing.

 

[Upside]

There's also the updated jersey number rule, which allows LBs and DBs to wear any number between 1 and 49. This is a disadvantage to all offenses, but particularly offenses with older quarterbacks, most of which are white, whereas younger black quarterbacks only a few years removed from college can adjust to the new numbers more easily. Tom Brady is the only one who's spoken about it publicly but I'm sure a lot of other older quarterbacks are thinking the same thing.

Yeah the numbers thing just looks unprofessional, and kind of tacky... if you look at most of the players that changed their numbers this year, you immediately realize this is just another example of the league caving to the malcontents..

 

[Jerry Reb]

The whole number change thing is a perfect example of why you shouldn't fix it if it isn't broken.